Multiple spring clutch



Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED '1. STUR'I, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T GENERAL MOTORS CORPbRA- TION, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A conPonA'rIoN or DELAW RE.

MULTIPLE srnme CLUTCH.

Application filed March 29, 1920. Serial No. 369,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED T. STURT, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple Spring Clutches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art W to which the invention relates to make and use the same, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to clutch mechanism of the class or type designed for use in and as forming a part of the transmission mechanism of automobiles, motor trucks and similar self-propelled vehicles, the purpose of said clutches being to disconnect the driving engine from the propeller shaft through which the driving wheels of the vehicle are driven to thereby permit the engine to be started independently of the propeller shaft and driving wheels, as is necessary in the case of vehicles driven by internal oombustion engines.

The principal obj provide improved clutch mechanism wherein the springs commonly present in such devices, and which act to normally hold the elements of the clutch in driving engagement with one angther, are more effectively housed and held in proper position than has heretofore commonly been the case.

provide an improved clutch'mechanism of the type or class above referred to which will be more simple in construction and effective in operation than has heretofore commonly been the case. Further objects of my invention will appear from the following description which, in connection with the drawing accompanying and forming apart of this application,

- forms a disclosure of my invention in its referred form; although it will be appreciated that the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated may be variously modified and that my invention includes all such variations and modifications of the form thereof illustratedas come within the scope ect of my invention is to A further object of my invention is to.

of the concluding claims, wherein the dis tinguishing features in which my invention consists are particularly pointed out.

In .the drawing: a

Figure 1 is a view showing my improved clutch mechanism partly in side elevation and partly broken away to show features of internal construction and arrangement which are hidden by the exterior parts of the device.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing my improved clutch mechanism in end elevation and likewise broken away in part.

Figure 3 is a view showing the spring retaining member of my improved clutch mechanism by itself, and in perspective.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view upon a somewhat larger scale showing a section taken upon a radial longitudinally extending plane indicated by the line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing my invention modified as to some of the features thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 6 designates a driving shaft, which is ordinarily the end of the crankshaft of the engine as is the case in the embodiment of my invention illustrated; and 7 designates a rotating driving member secured to said shaft and which ordinarily takes the form of the fly wheel of the engine. This driving member is provided with a pcripheral rim to which the reference numeral 8 is applied, said rim extending laterally from the periphery of the web 9 of the rotating driving member or fly wheel.

Secured to the free end of the rim 8 and extending inwardly therefrom in the cmboddriven member and-to'a driven shaft 12 concentric with the said shaft 6; and with which driven shaft said driven member is operatively connected as through a splined connection as illustrated in Figure 1. I wish to here state, however, that the driving and "driven members may be interchanged withor desirable to-use the clutch in a power transmitting line in which the shaft 12 or its equivalent is the driving shaft and the shaft 6 the driven shaft.

The reference numeral 13 designates a clutch member shown as a ring located within the rim 8 in the form of my invention illustrated, and which clutch ring is movable toward and from the abutment provlded by the inwardly extending annular member or ledge 10 above referred to. This clutch ring is acted upon by a plurality of coil springs 14 spaced about and located just inside the said rim; the left hand ends of said sprin s abutting against the web 9 of the fly w eel while the right hand ends thereof abut against the clutch ring and force the same against the periphery of the drlven member 11, to thereby clamp said perlphery between the clutch members provided by the said clutch ring and by the inwardly extending ledge 10 to thereby secure the transmission of torque from the driving to the dr1ven shaft through the clutch.

It therefore follows that the springs 14 act to normally main'taina driving connec-' tion between the driving and driven shafts. When, however, the driving connection between the shafts is to be interrupted the said clutch ring 13 is moved to the left, and against the action of the sald coil spr ngs; such movement bein roduced by a sliding collar 15 which is slidable upon the driven shaft 12 and to which motion is communicated through any suitable clutch operating lever 16, as is usual in such mechanisms, and

which sliding collar is operatively connected with the inner ends of a plurality of clutch operating levers 17 which are pivotally supported at 18 in cars extending from the abutment 10; and the extremities 19 of which levers act upon plungers 20 which are. slidable in holes provided in said abutment, and the inner ends of which are in engagement with the clutch ring 13; from which it follows that movement of the clutch releasing collar 15 to the right will force the said plungers to the left, thus movingthe clutch ring 13 to the left and interrupting the driving connection between the driving and driven members. In the fornr,

of my invention illustrated the collar 15 has a flange 5 adjacent the inner ends of the levers 17, and communicates movement to said levers through suitable bearing rings 4 surrounding said collar; and the inne of these rings has a series of radially extending slotted'springs 3 secured to it. The levers extend through the slots of the springs and their inner ends bear against the ring which carries the springs, while the outer ends of the springs press against the levers inside but close to the pivotal supports 18; the purpose of these features being to press the inner ends of the levers against the ring aforesaid with a yieldable spring pressure to thereby prevent lost motion between the parts when the clutch is operated by the operating lever 16.

The coil s rings 14 are spaced about the interior of t e-rim 8 adjacent which they lie and said springs are held in place relative to the 'clutch ring 13, and to the said rim 8, by means of an annular spring retaining, member 21 shown separate and apart from the other elements of the clutch in Figure 3; which spring retaining memher is provided with a plurality of recesses 22 in its periphery corresponding in number to the number of coil springs 14 employed, and within which recesses the said springs lie when the spring retaining member is in place within the space enclosed by the rim 8 and the end wall orweb 9,0f the fly wheel the recesses being open at their outer sides or ends and the adjacent inner wall of the rim serving to close said outer ends to thereby provide separate chambers or cells within which the springs are contained, as will be understood. This spring retaining member may be variously made; although I prefer to form the same from a strip of comparatively thin sheet metal suitably corrugated to provide the spring retaining recesses 22. which strip is then bent so as to bring its free ends together and in which position said free ends are secured one to the other as bywelding, riveting, brazing or otherwise, thus providing a spring retaining member of the annular form which it necessarily takes in my improved clutch mechanism.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 4the clutch ring 13 is caused to rotate with the driving member 7 by an inwardly extending pin 23 which extends into a recess 24 provided in the periphery of said clutch ring. In the 1 form of my invention shown in Figure 5, however, the clutch ring 25 is provided with holes in its periphery into which the inner ends of plungers 26 through which the said clutch ring is moved to interrupt a driving action of the clutch extend, the heads 27 of said plungers lying within openings 28 provided in the inwardly extending abutment 29; and the side walls of which openings obviously serve as stops for the said heads and act to vprevent rotary movement of. the clutch ring 25 independently of the'abutment 29 or, as otherwise stated, act to cause said members to rotate together as 'is necessary in clutch mechanisms of the -my lnvention in which the driving clutch member or fly wheel 31 is provided with'an' annular groove located ad acent its periphery and within which groove an annular spring retaining member in. 11 essential respects like the member illusti hted in Figure 3, and hereinbefore described, is located, and within the peripheral recesses of which mem- .ber the springs 32 which normally maintain a driving engagement between the clutch members are located; this form of my invention being one in which the springs are somewhat more securely held in place as the annular spring retaining member which positions and spaces them the proper distance apart from one another is itself protected and to a degree reinforced by the inner annular wall 33 which, in connection with a similar wall spaced apart therefrom, provides the annular groove within which the springs together with their retaining member are located. In both forms of my invention illustrated, however, the springs are properly spaced and held in place, and in proper operative relation with the parts with which they co-operate, by a spring retaining member which is independent of and in no way secured to the driving member; thereby providin a form of clutch in which the driving mem er is of simple form as it does not itself have to be made with special reference to holding the springs in proper operative relation with the other elements I of the clutch, this last mentionedfunction being performed by the separate and independent spring retaining member of the clutch. Y

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a clutch mechanism of the class described, a fly wheel having a web portion, and a peripheral rim extending laterally from said web portion; an annular abutment secured to the free end of said rim and extending inwardly therefrom; a clutch ring located within said rim and between said web and said annular abutment, and which ring is movable toward and from said abutment; a plurality of coil. springs located within said fly wheel and spaced- I about the interio of said rim and arranged adjacent the inner surface thereof and hich springs act between said web portion and said clutch ring to force the latter toward said abutment; a plurality of .plungers extending through openings. provided in said annular abutment and the inner ends of which are in operative engagement with said clutch ring; a plurality of clutch re which lies leasing levers carried by said annular abutment and which levers are in engagement with said plungers to thereby operate the member located within said rim, and

pockets open attheir outer sides, and which recesses in connection with the adjacentinner wall of the rim provide a. series of chambers within which said springs lie; and a rotatable driven member concentric with said drivin member and the periphery of tween said annular abutment and said clutch ring. I

2. In a clutch mechanism of' the class described. a rotatable driving member having a peripheral rim, and an inwardly extending annular abutment; aclutch ring located within said rim and movable toward and from said abutmenta plurality of coil springs located just within and spaced about the interior of saidrim, and acting upon said clutch ring to force the same toward said abutment; an annular spring retaining member separate from said driving member and located within saidrim, and having a plurality of peripheral recesses open at their outer sides and cooperating with the adjacent inner surface of said rim to provide cells or chambers within which said springs lie; a rotatable driven. member concentric with said driving member and the periphery of which lies between said abutment and saidclutch ring; and operating means for moving said clutch ring in opposition to said springs.

3. In clutch mechanism of the class described, a fly wheel having a web portion, and a peripheral rim extending laterally from said web portion; an annular abut: ment secured tothe free end of said rim and extending inwardly therefrom; a clutch said web portion and said clutch ring to force the latter toward said abutment; a plurality of plun ers extending through openings provided 1n said annular abutment and the inner ends of which are inoperative engagement with said clutch ring; a plurality of clutch releasing levers carried by said annular abutment and which levers are in engagement with said plungers to thereby operate the same; means for operating said clutch releasing levers; an annular spring retaining member located between said web portion and said clutch ring, and which member is unconnected with the other ele ments' of the clutch mechanism and is provided with a plurality of redesses or pockets within which said springs lie; and a rotatable driven member concentric with said driving member and the periphery of which lies between said annular abutment and said 5 clutch ring.

4. In clutch mechanism of the class de-' scribed an annular spring retaining member havmg a plurality of spring retaining recesses opening outwardly, or in a radial ture. ALFRED T. STURT. 

